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Alabama

South Alabama hosts Arkansas State for a Sun Belt Conference college football game on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. South Alabama offensive lineman Shaun Artz (73) consoles South Alabama quarterback Ross Metheny (2) after Metheny's incomplete pass on fourth down to give the Red Wolves the final possession to secure the 17-16 win. (Mike Kittrell/mkittrell@al.com)

Another slow start proved to be an issue for the Jags' offense. In the first half they had a couple of chances to score touchdowns but had to settle for field goals. They were only 3-of-14 in third-down conversions against Arkansas State and in the fourth quarter couldn't make anything happen. There wasn't the kind of punch that has been evident recently. The Jags scored only one touchdown in the game, the only time that has been true all season. And their 371 total yards is well less than the 446.6-yards average they took into the game.

GRADE: C-

DEFENSE

The Jags' defense did a good job for the most part against a solid offensive team, especially in the first half. They defense held ASU scoreless at halftime for the first time this season and forced the Red Wolves into seven punts in the game. The trouble spot in the performance was allowing ASU to drive 75 at the midway mark of the final quarter to post a game-winning touchdown. The Jags held ASU to 349 total yards, almost 100 yards below its average.

GRADE: B+

SPECIAL TEAMS

This was another good performance by the Jags' special teams. Aleem Sunanon was 3-for-3 on field goal tries and now has connected on his past five efforts and Scott Garber averaged 41.8 yards per punt. But perhaps the best play of the game came from the punt and kickoff coverage teams, which did not allow ASU to generate any momentum in areas in which it has had success all season. J.D. McKissic had two punt returns for a total of seven yards and the Red Wolves averaged just 16.8 yards on kickoff returns. USA averaged 24 yards per kick return and 6.0 yards on punt returns.

GRADE: A

COACHING

Consider the difficulty of continuing to keep a team that has experienced so many close losses this season together - many teams would have mailed it in after even less close defeats than the Jags have suffered this season - and this staff has done yeoman's work. There was a good plan in place for ASU, but the execution, at least offensively, just wasn't there. Finding a way to get this team over the close-game hump is one thing; keeping it together so there is an opportunity to get it over such a hump is another. There is something to be said for the job the coaching staff has done in keeping the team together.

GRADE: B

OVERALL

Another slow start, more than the play in the fourth quarter, played a big factor in the loss. South Alabama had its chances early to separate itself from ASU but couldn't score any first-half touchdowns despite getting close. The defense shout out the Red Wolves in the first half and gave up only a touchdown in the first three periods. But ASU managed 10 fourth-quarter points, the Jags only three. Good special teams play, good defensive play, not as much punch from the offense; it points to another close loss for the Jags.